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The following is a statement from Deborah Smolover, Executive Director of America Forward and a Managing Partner at New Profit.

On the occasion of David Wilkinson’s appointment as the new Director of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, America Forward and New Profit commend President Barack Obama, and committed partners across the Obama Administration and Congress, for their ongoing efforts to catalyze new, high-impact solutions to our country’s most pressing challenges, and we applaud the selection of Mr. Wilkinson, a proven strong, visionary, and committed leader of social innovation policy, to head the Office of Social Innovation.

Speaking as part of a network of the nation’s most innovative and effective nonprofit organizations and social entrepreneurs, and numerous champions of social innovation across diverse sectors, we celebrate that this appointment marks a continued commitment to leverage the Office of Social Innovation to accelerate progress on national priorities, invest in what works, and increase impact investing to maximize taxpayer resources and drive better outcomes. Dave’s commitment to innovative, evidenced-based solutions, his experience as a social entrepreneur and financial leader, his work in support of the nonprofit sector, and his deep knowledge of social finance and impact investing, will no doubt make him a strong leader of the White House Social Innovation Office. We look forward to partnering with him on advancing the use of outcomes in government and furthering the utilization of impact investing to support and scale the important work of social service organizations.

The Administration’s creation of the Office of Social Innovation in 2009 has been critical to advancing innovation in government and supporting partnerships between the public and private sectors to advance efforts to address our Nation’s most pressing challenges. The Office, and the wealth of innovation it has fostered, are important accomplishments for this Administration. Yet, there is more still to be done to ensure better outcomes for people facing barriers to opportunity in communities across the country, and with Dave at the helm, we know that the Office of Social Innovation will continue to move forward in these efforts.

We congratulate Dave on his appointment and look forward to continuing to work with the White House, the broader Obama Administration, and Congress in common purpose.